Quick Pitch Shower Slope System Installation Guide & FAQ
The Quick Pitch® Shower Slope System is designed to help contractors, tile installers, and DIY homeowners build properly sloped tile shower floors quickly and accurately. Engineered for residential and commercial shower installations, the system creates the correct drainage slope while simplifying mortar bed installation for traditional and modern waterproof shower systems.
Quick Pitch® helps create the industry-recommended 1/4" per foot slope needed to direct water efficiently toward the shower drain. The stay-in-place float sticks reinforce the mortar bed while helping eliminate low spots, standing water, and uneven shower floor surfaces.
The system is compatible with traditional shower pan liners, liquid waterproofing membranes, fabric sheet membranes, Schluter® Kerdi systems, linear drains, and standard adjustable shower drains. It works for centered drains, off-center drains, curbless showers, and custom shower layouts.
Why Contractors Choose Quick Pitch®
- Creates accurate shower floor slopes
- Helps improve shower drainage performance
- Compatible with modern waterproofing systems
- Works with linear drains and standard drains
- Ideal for tile shower remodeling projects
- Suitable for residential and commercial bathrooms
- Supports custom and irregular shower layouts
- Simplifies deck mud installation
Available Quick Pitch® Kits
- QPK101 Standard Installation Kit for standard shower layouts
- EFS103 Extended Float Stick Kit for larger shower installations
- XFS101.2 Extra Float Stick Kit for curved or multi-wall shower designs
Step 1: Install the Center Ring
Position the Quick Pitch® center ring over the drain flange bolts with the float stick sockets facing upward. Verify that the drain assembly is level before proceeding.
The center ring is engineered to sit above the flange bolts to provide the required mortar bed thickness while improving water flow toward the drain weep holes.
Weep hole protection is strongly recommended for improved long-term drainage performance.
Modern shower installations commonly use liquid waterproofing membranes, sheet membranes, or fabric waterproofing systems together with Quick Pitch® for enhanced waterproof protection.
Step 2: Position the Float Sticks
Insert the float sticks into the center ring sockets and evenly distribute them throughout the shower floor area. Extended or additional float sticks may be used for oversized or irregular shower layouts.
The float sticks should generally remain 2 to 2.5 feet apart near the outer perimeter for easier screeding and smoother mud bed installation.
For level perimeter shower designs, the outer ends of the sticks may be shimmed with mortar as needed.
Quick Pitch® is commonly used today with:
- Linear shower drains
- Curbless showers
- Large format tile installations
- Barrier-free shower systems
- Luxury bathroom remodeling projects
Step 3: Prepare the Mortar Bed
Mix 4 parts clean sand with 1 part Portland cement until evenly blended. Slowly add water until the mixture reaches the consistency of a compact snowball.
This consistency allows the mortar to compact properly while remaining easy to screed and shape.
Premixed deck mud products are also widely used in modern shower installations and can simplify preparation.
Many professional installers now combine Quick Pitch® with advanced waterproofing systems such as:
- Schluter® Kerdi
- Laticrete Hydro Ban®
- RedGard® Waterproofing
- NobleSeal® membranes
- Fabric sheet membrane systems
Step 4: Apply & Screed the Mortar
Starting from the furthest area of the shower floor, spread the mortar evenly between the float sticks.
Use a screed stick or trowel to level the mud by dragging across the top edges of the float sticks. Lightly compact the mortar to create a stable shower floor base.
Step 5: Final Cure & Tile Preparation
Lightly sponge water across the surface to assist curing and allow the mortar bed to dry overnight before tile installation.
For best results, use a high-quality latex-modified thin-set mortar for tile installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Quick Pitch® be used with off-center drains?
Yes. The system is designed to work with centered and off-center drain layouts commonly found in bathroom remodels and tub-to-shower conversions.
Does Quick Pitch® work with linear drains?
Yes. Quick Pitch® is compatible with many linear drain installations and modern shower waterproofing systems.
Do I still need a pre-slope underneath the liner?
Yes. Building codes require a pre-slope underneath traditional shower pan liners to properly direct moisture toward the drain weep holes.
Will the float sticks weaken the mortar bed?
No. The float sticks are engineered to remain permanently inside the mortar bed and function as reinforcement within the shower floor system.
What waterproofing systems are compatible with Quick Pitch®?
Quick Pitch® works with liquid waterproofing membranes, vinyl liners, fabric sheet membranes, Schluter® Kerdi systems, and many other modern waterproof shower systems.
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Flooring Supply Shop offers professional shower installation systems, waterproofing products, shower drains, and tile shower accessories for residential and commercial bathroom projects.